augustus low



(No Model.) A A LOW TYPE GONTAINING CHANNEL.

N0. 360,358. Patented Ma1.29, 1887.

up? @mle/M N paens, Pham nnwgmvhm. wmmgxm n. u,

iJ'NiTn Smarts ATENT trice,

A. AUGUSTUS LOV, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALDEN TYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-CONTAINING CHANNEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 360,358, dated llfal'ch 29, 1887.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that I, A. Anens'rns Low, a

citizen of the United States, residing in thel My improvements, although applicable geni erally to type-channels of various kinds, relate more especially to the type-containing channels used in conjunction with the means of setting and distributing type heretofore patented to Louis K. Johnson and myself, as set forth in Patents Nos. 230,784, 254,019, 271,711, 336,719, 264,085, 282,988, 336,645, 337,406, and 340,124, and subsequent applications for patents.

The type-containing channels of this class are transferable or interchangeable in and between both setter and distributer. Vhen in the distributer, the receiving ends of the containingfchannels connect with permanent type-conduits, by which the types are deposited in the channels in prescribed positions, the types being successively forwarded in the containing-channels by a reciprocating pusher, the pusher-fingers of which, when advanced, carry the last types deposited beyond the path ofthe heels of the succeeding types, so that the throats or type-receiving areas are left free and unobstructed. Practically, in distribution this feature of maintaining an open free throat or receivingspace in each containing-channel is of importance, and to this end various means have been devised by the said Johnson and myself for preventing or counteraeting the backlash or retractile movement of the types into the throat after the receding type-pusher. In this connection reference may be had to earlier patents for an understanding of the nature and causes of backlash and the means employed to obviate the difficulty, by which it will be seen that a type holding` and resisting surface consisting of a continuous strip of a comparatively soft semi-elastic material is first used upon the side wall of a channel at its receiving end for the purpose of obviating backlash, &c.

Iliave heretofore described and claimed various modifications in the use and application of such soft semi-elastic material for the purpose stated, and also for the purpose of regulating the frictional contact of the type'prcceders or slugs with the innerside walls ofthe channels.

Experience has demonstrated that in many respects the most effective aswell as economical method of using the soft or semi-elastic holding and sustaining surface referred to is to apply it to the channels in the form of a suitable length of cord or string-that is to say, by exposing a section of cord in the channel between two perforations in the sidewall, the end of the cord nearest the extremity of the channel being knotted to hold the cord against the strain caused by the types as they are forwarded, and the other end, after being passed through the last perforation, being left loose and free, so that the cord can adapt it self to any back-pressure exerted by the column of type, and by kinking or puckering up under such action increase the lateral pressure and promptly check any f urthcr retractile movement.

My present invention relates in this last rel'- erence to the special construction herein set forth for facilitating the application or removal and substitution of the lengths or sections of cord or string to the channel; and it consists in forming the extreme end of the channel with a slit in lieu of the perforation in the spine of the channel heretofore used, in which the knotted end of the cord may be more readily secured, and in forming the side wall of the channel with a longitudinal slot coinciding in position with the bearingsurface of the cord when the latter is in position upon the opposite sidewall. This elongated slot provides for the convenient and rapid insertion or removal of the free end of the cord through the perforations in the opposite side wall, the narrowest of the typechannels heretofore rendering the operation tedious and difficult, since the position of the cord within the chanlnel is preferably about one-half of type-high, or near the middle height of the high Wall of the channel, corresponding to the plane of action ofthe type-forwarding device when the channel is in position in the distributer.

IOO

. fore.

In my applications hereinbefore referred to I show several methods of applying a comparatively soft semi-elastic frictional surface to the type-preceders or slugs in such manner as to increase the frictional contact with the side walls ofthe channels; but such means necessarilyimply the use of a preceder or slug of less thickness than the width ofthe type,

passage.

My present invention includes a type-pre` ceder or slug the perimeter of which is provided with a surface or band of comparatively soft elastic or semi-elastic material for increasing fric-tional contact with the bottom'or spine of the channel. By this construction I am enabled to attain the requisite degree -of friction or resistance and still use a close-fitting preceder or slug of a thickness equal (nearly) to the width of the type-channel. I also utilize the weight of the slug in pressing the frictional material against the bottom or spine, and thereby increase its effectiveness to that extent.

My invention also includes the formation of the side wall of the channel with a shallow groove or depression for the reception of the cord, the sides of which groove support the cord laterally, while permitting it to project into the channel sufficiently to control the passage of the types.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the receiving end of my improved type-containing channel with the cord in place; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same end of the channel without the cord; Fig. 4, alongitudinal section upon plane oflihe o n, Fig. 2, without the cord, Fig. 5, a like View with the cord in position; Fig. 6, a horizontal section of the end of the channel upon plane of line w w, Fig. 5, illustrating the utility ofthe longitudinal slot in applying the cord; Fig. 7, a side elevation of the receiving end ofthe channel, containing 'a short line of types and my improved type-preceder Fig. 8, a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 9, a side elevation ofmy improved slug or type-preceder; Fig. 10, au edge View of the latter; Fig. 11, a section of the slug or preceder upon plane of line x x, Fig. 9; Fig. 12, a section of the same upon plane of line y y, Fig. l0. Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the channel upon line z z, Fig. 4.

The containing-channel A is preferably made of sheet metal stamped up into the required form by suitable dies, Snc., as hereto- At the type-receiving end the extremity of one wall is formed with the slit b. This slit is formed in the edge of the side wall of the channel A, to which the cordC is appliedpreferably the high wall ct--although, if desired, the cord C may be applied to the 10W wall a. of the channel. The position ofthe slit b is regulated so that theknot c of the cord C, when the latter is in position, will be either abovel or below the .area traversed by the pusher7 when the channel is connected with the distributor. The partsare usually arranged in such manner that the pusher-fin gers enter lthe receiving ends of the channels about midway ofthe height of the high wall a, or onehalf of type-high, so as to act upon the middle of the types at or approximating a right angle to their length. For this reason I have shown in the drawings the slit b formed in the end of the side wall a above the field of action of the pusher, although it maybe otherwise situated thereon, or may, if preferred, be formed directly in the end of the bottom or spine a2, in lieu of the perforation heretofore used at that point.

At or near the middle wall a the two perforations b b2 are formed equidistant from the floor or spine c2, so that the section c of the cord C, which projects into the channel between them, will extend longitudinally in the channel. The distance between the inner end ofthe slit b and the first perforation, b', is regulated so as to leave sufficient space betweenthe interior projections of the cord Cat these, points to constitute a lfree and unobstructed type-receiving space, s, into which the types drop from thelower ends of the conduits in the distributer. In the opposite side Wall c', coinciding horizontally with and parallel to the position of the section c of the cord C when in place, is formed the longitudinal slot d, preferably slightly larger in width than the diameter of the perforationsb b2 in the high wall a.

In applying the cord C the knotted end c is slipped into the slit b, so that the knot projects into the channel, and the free end c2 first passed through the perforation b and through the longitudinal slot d in the opposite wall, and then returned through the said longitudinal slot d and passed through the final perforation, b2. This operation will be understood b-y reference to Fig. 6, in which the free end e of the cord is represented as having just been passed through the second perforation, b2, the middle section, c', of the cord being aceolnmodated by the longitudinal slot d.

The use of the slit b and the longitudinal slot d in conjunction with the perforations b IIO b2 simplifies and.facilit.ates the operation of applying, removing, or substituting the cords, since heretofore, owing to the narrowness of the channels, the insertion of the free end into the inal perforation, b, was a tedious and difficult undertaking, requiring skill upon the part of the workman, whereas by my present construction the cords may be applied by distributer-boysor others of slight experience.

The type-preceder or slug P is formed ofv a thickness equal nearly to the full width of the type-passage, and one or more of its edges are provided with an elastic or semi-elastic bearingsurface of rubber or other suitable material for the purpose of increasing frietional contact with the bottom or spine aL of the containing-ehannel. The frictional material p is preferably applied in theform of a band, and the perimeter of the slug is preferably grooved to receive and retain the material against lateral displacement. The grooves pp are made shallow upon the edges from which it is desired that the frictional material shall protrude, while the grooves p2 p2 in the other edges are made sufficiently deep to receive and isolate the portion oi' the band engaging therewitln This construction is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 1l, and 12, and is for the purpose of producing a reversible slug, the two ends 192292 of which present metallic surfaces to the types,

while the other edges present contactsurfaces,

which tend to retard the movement of the slug within the channel.

In order to support the inner sections, c', of the cord laterally, Ii'orm a shallow groove, c, between the perforations bbg, when desirable. Gord of sufficient thickness to project a suitable distance beyond the inner plane of thc wall is used, as shown in Fig. 13.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A typecontaining channel, substantially such as designated, formed with the slit b, in combination with the pcrl'brations b b2, ar-

ranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. A type-containing channel, substantially such as designated, formed with perforations for the cord C in one side wall, and with the coinciding longitudinal slot (l in the opposite side Wall, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

3. In combination with a type-containing channel,substantially such as described,a type, 

